Franchise Advisory Board | Expert Franchising Advice for Franchise Leaders Why Franchises Must Own Their Websites (Before It Costs Them)
Apr 8, 2025
40:19
In this episode of The Advisory Board Podcast, host Dave Hansen sits down with the deeply insightful Mark Michael, Co-Founder and CEO of DevHub, a leading website platform purpose-built for multi-location and franchise brands.
Right off the bat, Mark brings the heat (and some serious shade game), challenging the franchise industry's outdated views on digital infrastructure. He explains why most franchise brands think they own their websites… but really don’t—and how that disconnect can cost them in agility, SEO, PPC effectiveness, and long-term growth.
From war stories about outdated systems (hello, Access databases 👀) to the power shift driven by AI and changing consumer behavior, this episode unpacks:
The real meaning of owning your website (hint: it’s about control, scalability, and future-proofing your marketing).
Why a sleek design doesn’t mean much if your customers can’t take action.
How AI is already transforming website content, user interaction, and backend updates.
Why the “all-in-one” marketing tech pitch may be doing more harm than good.
And how franchise brands can separate what’s flashy from what’s functional in their tech stack.
Mark also gives a behind-the-scenes look at DevHub’s evolution—from 15 years in white-label anonymity to becoming a direct powerhouse for franchise brands—powering systems like Authority Brands and Homefront Brands. His passion is palpable, his opinions are unfiltered, and his message is clear: the brands that own their digital presence will win the next decade.
Special thanks to our episode sponsor, ClientTether, for supporting this insightful conversation. ClientTether is helping franchise brands automate, communicate, and scale smarter.
👉 Don’t miss this one if you're ready to ditch the duct-tape tech stack, embrace scalable systems, and start treating your website like the digital HQ it really is.
Want to connect with Mark? You can find him at DevHub.com, on LinkedIn, or anywhere online as @gliderCEO.
Let us know what hit home for you in this episode!
Right off the bat, Mark brings the heat (and some serious shade game), challenging the franchise industry's outdated views on digital infrastructure. He explains why most franchise brands think they own their websites… but really don’t—and how that disconnect can cost them in agility, SEO, PPC effectiveness, and long-term growth.
From war stories about outdated systems (hello, Access databases 👀) to the power shift driven by AI and changing consumer behavior, this episode unpacks:
The real meaning of owning your website (hint: it’s about control, scalability, and future-proofing your marketing).
Why a sleek design doesn’t mean much if your customers can’t take action.
How AI is already transforming website content, user interaction, and backend updates.
Why the “all-in-one” marketing tech pitch may be doing more harm than good.
And how franchise brands can separate what’s flashy from what’s functional in their tech stack.
Mark also gives a behind-the-scenes look at DevHub’s evolution—from 15 years in white-label anonymity to becoming a direct powerhouse for franchise brands—powering systems like Authority Brands and Homefront Brands. His passion is palpable, his opinions are unfiltered, and his message is clear: the brands that own their digital presence will win the next decade.
Special thanks to our episode sponsor, ClientTether, for supporting this insightful conversation. ClientTether is helping franchise brands automate, communicate, and scale smarter.
👉 Don’t miss this one if you're ready to ditch the duct-tape tech stack, embrace scalable systems, and start treating your website like the digital HQ it really is.
Want to connect with Mark? You can find him at DevHub.com, on LinkedIn, or anywhere online as @gliderCEO.
Let us know what hit home for you in this episode!